Pinakbet: The Dish and a ‘Rap!’ Atbp!

Ilocano’s serve their visitors, either “Pinakbet” or “Dinengdeng” for meals, because these are two of our basic dishes. That is understandable because the Region is basically agricultural, thus, veggies are abundant. Cooking Pinakbet have spread to different provinces all throughout the country and have evolved into different versions.

Here are the basic ingredients of Pinakbet:

The Pinakbet is now more than a dish. Clubs and organizations have acquired the same name. Lately, it has also become a rap-song by a US-based Filipino known as Filippeanut which you can listen to here while reading the rest of the entry:

Sta. Monica Parish Museum: Sarrat, Ilocos Norte

Sarrat, Ilocos Norte is popular for two reasons. One, it’s the birthplace of President Ferdinand Marcos and two, the Parish Church, Sta Monica, is where his daughter Irene got married in June of 1983.

Unknown to many, however, an equally interesting structure is the ruins of what I understand to be a “trial/court building” during the Spanish Era. It was only in 1997 that the structure is restored to its present state as the Parish Museum.

The marker of the Museum reads: “The Sta. Monica Parish Museum is a repository of artifacts and memorabilia that dates back to the construction of the Church edifice in 1779, was established in 1993 on the initiative of then the parish priest, dedicated to the Bishop of Laoag. It was completed in 1997 through the generosity of the Kannawidan Foundation, Inc. – The Iloko Foundation for Arts and Culture, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the people of Ilocos Norte.”

“Pista Ng Sto. Nino” in San Beda

The “Pista Ng Sto. Nino” in San Beda, which coincides with its College Fair, Frolics, is held every last weekend of January. For alumni’s, attending the procession of the “Sto. Nino” is not only a venue to express their faith, but also a good upportunity to attend homecoming’s and to meet batchmate’s whom they have not seen or communicated to for several years.

Today, Sunday, I attended the morning mass at the Our Lady of Monserrat Chapel (better known as San Beda Chapel), before the “Sto. Nino” (the Patron of the school) is brought down from the alter for the procession in the afternoon. (Note: Please click ’small’ images to enlarge in various sizes.)

I have taken some images of the morning mass as well as the procession in the afternoon, which I am sharing here with you. For fellow Bedans who were not able to attend, you may recognize familiar faces, and for others ( who are equally important to me ), I am sharing here a tradition which San Beda have alumni’s keep coming back at least once a year!

A Scoot Named “Skeleton Jog”

In the 80’s, “Poro Point” in SanFernando La Union and the neighboring province of Ilocos Sur became popular for motorists as a place to get scooters at a very low price. It was the entry point of scooters coming from China and Taiwan (short of saying smuggled!) known in the Region as “chop-chop.” It is believed that these scooters are smuggled out from the place of origin and assembled while being shipped to the place of destination, thus the name. Through the years, however, the practice has died down and already inexistent at the moment. This is attributable to affordable prices of scooters everywhere, less the hassle of acquiring smuggled goods! Until now, however, they still refer to scooters in Ilocos as “chop-chop” even when acquired from a legal distributor.

In my latest stay in Ilocos last December, I first saw in the public plaza, a scooter with a form so unconventional because it was all skeleton! I wanted to take a photo that very moment but it was moving. I was not left without nothing though, because it was then I realized why some scoots are referred to as “skeletons.” Honestly, I don’t know if it is offensive to scoot owners with the same kind, but in all candor, I am sharing here with you why I was able to answer a question that remained unanswered until I saw it – that is, why are some scoots referred to as skeletons!

When I went home that day, I saw the same scooter pass by our place and little did I know that it was our neighbor. I was excited to take a photo but the owner seemed aloft and I never had a good chance to chat with him until my last day, without even having the decency of knowing his name, because all I wanted was an image of his scoot.  I eventually had the chance to take some photos of his scoot which he named as Skeleton Jog (I didn’t even ask who or what “jog” means)! It’s original form is not what you see here. It was with all the proper casing (if you call it that way!) but in time, they have been detached for the scoot to have a different look. It could have looked better if it was wel-maintained.

A Provincial Life: Featuring the “Kuribot”

In Ilocos, the kuribot is a native basket weaved from bamboo in different sizes with a handle on one side and carried over the shoulder. The underbelly of the bamboo is usually used because it’s more flexible (to meet the demands of weaving) while it provides the same strength that the outer skin may do.

See more use and images of the kuribot in the next page.

Rotating Marian Image in Quezon City, PHI

A 30-foot image of “Mary, Regina Rosarii: Our Lady in the City” stands on top of the 5-Storey D’Regina Building at No. 70, Scout Fernandez, Barangay Laging Handa in Quezon City (easily accessible from Tomas Morato Avenue). It is claimed to be the biggest image, so far, built and dedicated to the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. It is as huge as the one in Edsa Shrine but what makes it more interesting is that it rotates at 360-degrees every 6 A.M. and 9:15 P.M., everyday.

The Marian image, unveiled only last May 31, 2006, is made of fiberglass by the young and renowed Davao-based sculpture Jose ‘Joe’ Barcena, who have done several Marian images all over the country.

A Tribute to “Tatang” Everywhere

This post is a tribute to the typical Ilocano father (we call him ‘Tatang’ in our dialect) in a typical Rural Ilocos setting. From the break of dawn, Tatang thinks of nothing and do nothing but farming to provide his family decent meals, three times a day.

The images uploaded here are converted to ‘black and white’ with a dash of color, mostly in neutral shades (I got little help from Photoshop and in my online tutorial on digital imaging) which truly reflects life in rural Ilocos – simple.

The image sequencing starts with Tatang preparing to go to the farm until he retires at the end of the day. To complement each photo, I have inserted quotations of a simple poem I have written inspired by my father who spent most of his life in the farm before he died.

To every Tatang everywhere, and to my beloved Dad in Heaven, this is all for you…

“As the sun rises, it’s time prepare.
All things to be done for the family all day.”

Continued on the next page.

Innocence of a Child

Capturing a child’s face, in whatever expression, is one of the most beautiful subjects not only because they come out good, most often, but also because it freezes their precious innocence. As they grow, these images will remind them of their childhood and hopefully will make them better persons by always looking back how they were as carefree tiny cutties!

Here are some images of my two other “kaanakan’s” (Ilocano word for pamangkin’s/nephew/niece), Chanel (3 years-old) and Chanz, (5 years-old), children of my sister Christine and her husband Mario. These were taken during ‘siesta’ last December in a ‘bahay kubo’ in their backyard in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

More images on the next page.

Test Shots!

Here are some ‘macro’ test shots on my new Lumix using its built-in 35-mm lens on macro mode. While they came out good, it could have been better (I know!) if I used the corresponding macro lens. The subject could have been closer and the details more vivid!

If you grew-up in the province, like me, these wildflowers should be familiar and may even bring good and fun memories of your childhood. Let the nostalgia unfold.

More images on the next page.

Laoag City’s ‘Christmasterpiece’

The images that you see below are the first set of pictures I have taken using a new ‘digicam’ given as a gift last Christmas from Ron and Amy. Big thanks to both of you guys for (always) condoning what I enjoy better, however alien to what I’m suppose to be doing!

Laoag City’s ‘Christmaspiece’ last year was so impressive! It reflected the culture of the City and the whole Ilocos Region. It was so massive that is occupied the whole extent of the public plaza in front of the Provincial Capitol of Ilocos Norte from one end to the other. The structures, dioramas and decorations to the minutest details were all made of local materials such as bamboo, hay, corn/coconut husk and various dried leaves, complemented by wrappers of Unilever products. At night, it lights up so beautifully with over a thousand bulbs encased in mayonnaise bottles, consistent with the Christmas campaign of Lady’s Choice Mayonnaise every season.

More images on the next page.